Stillman student competes in Ford Black College Quiz

Wednesday

Nov 14, 2012 at 12:01 AM

TUSCALOOSA Lawrence Brown was ready. He had been studying and quizzing for months. He knew the real names of certain black celebrities and which nonprofit organizations had been started by others. He could share random tidbits on black pop culture, history, literature and theater.

By Kim EatonStaff Writer

TUSCALOOSA Lawrence Brown was ready. He had been studying and quizzing for months. He knew the real names of certain black celebrities and which nonprofit organizations had been started by others. He could share random tidbits on black pop culture, history, literature and theater. What the 20-year-old Stillman College junior did not count on was the nerves that took over when the TV cameras came out and began filming the seventh annual Ford Black College Quiz.“The actual competition wasn't the big stress. I did the best I could and didn't really focus on my competitors,” Brown said. “But knowing I was going to be on TV was really nerve- wracking. I was visibly shaking during the first round, but then I was able to chill out and relax.”Brown was one of 12 students from historically black colleges and universities selected to participate in the “Jeopardy!” style game show that challenges the students' knowledge of black history and culture. The students were competing for $20,000 in scholarships. Taped at Spelman College in Atlanta, the show is set to air between January and March. The series will consist of four half-hour quiz shows with three schools competing in each segment. The winners will not be released until after the show has finished airing nationwide. After learning that he would be competing, Brown received an 87-page study guide that covered a variety of topics, from black Olympic medalists to black theater. He used the guide to create flash cards and practiced with Stillman's quiz team, of which he is also a member. “We replicated the quiz format, acted it out like it would be played on television,” he said. Even though he's an English major, Brown said the literature category was his most challenging. The questions covered both well-known and not so well-known authors and books and included several he had never heard before. The key to the competition, however, was memorization, he added.“It was a great experience, one I'll keep with me for a long time,” Brown said. “I got to meet a lot of great students, faculty members, and the networking opportunities were great. I really enjoyed it.”This was the first year Stillman had a student participating in the event. Brown was selected by Thomas Jennings, an associate professor of history and quiz bowl team coach. Jennings said he wanted a student who would have the “best chance of doing well in the competition,” but it could not be a senior because the scholarship was for undergraduate work. “It's fantastic for Lawrence. He's a very intelligent, very capable individual,” Jennings said. “(The competition also) does a really good service to the African-American community, highlighting the contributions made by HBCUs and the population. A huge portion of our students are the first to go to college, and when you see them on a show like this, it sets a positive role model for their community. They see they can achieve higher education.”The show's airing schedule will be announced by Central City Productions. For information about the show, visit ccptv.com.